Japanese defense abilities. Part 1

Recently emerged tension in the Russo-Japanese relationship brought us to the idea to analyze the defense abilities of Japan and other Asian-Pacific countries. But let’s start with Japan.

Pacifism constitution

Article 9 of the Japanese constitution states: “Japanese people forever denounce war as a sovereign right of the nation”. Thus, having been adopted in 1947, Constitution reflected an act of national penitence for the aggressive expansion policy that eventually brought Japanese people to unleashing of the Japanese-Chinese war of 1937-1945 and its participation in the Second World War alongside with Nazi Germany. During almost ten years Japan hasn’t even got its own army, although the Cold War logic made Japanese create the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). Today they make one of the most advanced and well-equipped armies of the world. According to the Japanese Constitution, this army can only be used for the sake of defense of its own territory and only up to degree, necessary to repel the direct attack. Due to the same reason, Japanese military is not allowed to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, aircraft carriers and strategic bombers.

Tokyo pointedly pays a lot of attention to the civic control of the military and flatly refuses to manufacture and deploy nuclear weapons at the Japanese territory, simultaneously allowing the use of the U.S. defense “nuclear umbrella”. In 2007 Shinzō Abe government reformed the Japanese Defense Agency, having created Ministry of Defense on its basis — that became one of the points of Liberal-Democratic Party “hawks” program. Still, army strength may be increased only within the limits, necessary to repel aggression. As a result of that, Self-Defense Forces make up only 239 000 people — 148 000 of which fall for infantry, 44 000 for the Navy and 46 000 for the Air Force. Along with 59 000 of reserve units it turns Japan into the least militarized power in the region — 2.3 soldiers for 1000 of civilians. Comparably modest strength is compensated with the high level of military spending — Japan spends approximately 1% of its GDP on defense (in 2009 that made up $46.3 billion), which makes it one of the top ten military-spendthrift countries. We should, however, mention that during last ten years (1999-2009) these costs have been reduced for two billion dollars.

Japanese self-defense concept is based on two main aspects:

–        Creation of international security system, which is to constrain the possibility of military conflict hotbeds emergence, destabilization of international situation in the region.

–        Improvement of its own military capabilities, in order to be able to repel potential aggressor’s attack.

Tokyo is achieving the first goal by conducting collective security oriented foreign policy with the support of such international institutions as the UN. Japan takes an active part in the UN peace-making missions at Golan Heights, Sudan and in charity operations, intended to give aid to the victims of various catastrophes in India, Pakistan and Eastern Timor. These are the police and civil actions, while Japanese servicemen, participating in them are not even armed. Japanese participation in the Iraqi events of 2004-2006 within the Japanese support and reconstruction group actually required adoption of new legislative acts and provoked the Republic of Korea and DPRK’ reaction, which accused Tokyo of Japanese militarism revival.

In 2005 Japan adopted special program, which intended to secure the state raw materials supply security — first of all it applied to the hydro-carbon and metal deliveries.

Japanese-American cooperation

Japan and the USA are bound together by the cooperation ties, stipulated in the Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty of 1960. By that time, strength of American servicemen in Japan made up 36 000 people (3^rd Expeditionary Navy Corps and the 7^th fleet) but their presence at the Japanese soil used to cause numerous public protests that multiplied with every car accident and crime, committed by Americans. When Democratic Party came to power in Japan via the parliamentary elections of 2009, American presence in Japan became a subject of negotiations between the Japanese government, Pentagon and the U.S. State Department. Tokyo is not disputing the essence of allied relationship with Washington, but it strives for the right to influence the deployment and movements of American troops within Japan. First of all, Japanese are interested in American BMD system, designed to protect their country from a possible DPRK threat.

Consultations on the BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) matters are being held since 1993. Simultaneously with the development of North Korean nuclear and ballistic programs (Taepodong-1 tests in the 90s and the development of Taepodong-2 and Rodong-2 programs in the 2000s) these consultations became more and more prominent and in 2003 they’ve completed with the decision of Japanese government to create joint BMD system with the USA. Junichiro Koizumi Cabinet decided to create a two-level BMD system: Patriot PAC-3 batteries are the first level and integrated Aegis anti-missile system makes up the second one. The latter is mounted on four Congo-class vessels and two Atago-class vehicles. American-Japanese BMD system was originally intended to be ternary: missiles that were launched aiming to Japan were to be brought down at the initial part of trajectory (boost phase defense), then at the half-way and had these two attempts failed — right before the missiles were to hit the target. At the present time only first two phases are functioning, due to the fact that firstly it’s quite a complicated task to bring down a rocket at the initial phase and secondly because an erroneous determination of missile’s final destination is much more probable at that point.

In March of 2007 first Patriot batteries were deployed in Shinjuku Gyoen and on the 17^th of December, same year Japanese Self-Defense Forces successfully tested the Aegis system.

Evolution of Japanese army

With the end of the Cold War and decreased tension at the East-West line, Japan started to revaluate its defense concept. Previous system of defense against ground invasion ceded to BMD system and special military and navy operations. Due to that, amount of armored vehicles in Japanese army was reduced from 900 to 600. At the same time, in 2011 new Type-10 tank is to go into service. Japanese also plan to reinforce the Central Readiness Force (CFR) and set up the submarine patrols of Japanese and Eastern-Chinese seas.

In 2009 new 16 SS Sōryū submarine and 16 DDH Hyūga squadron torpedo boats took the water. These vessels are to replace the old ones that went into service as far back as in the 70s. In 2012-2014 deployment of new 5000 tons series torpedo-boat destroyers is scheduled — they are to guard the Aegis system.

General amount of combat aircrafts is to be reduced from 400 (including 300 fighters) to 350 (including 260 fighters). At the same time, intensive Air Force modernization is to take place: American F-15 aircrafts are to be upgraded and 94 Mitsubishi F-2 planes are to go into service. New Kawasaki C-X cargo planes are also to appear in the Japanese Air Force in 2010.

Due to the pressing terrorist threats, intelligence and counter-intelligence spending would be increased — as well as the creation of satellite alignment funding. Evolution of Japanese army is tightly intertwined with the state of Japanese economics. Swift development of economics in the 80s fell for the Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone term — he was a pro-American politician with an inclination towards nationalism. He actively developed the Japanese military and supported close allied relationship with the USA. In the 90s pace of economic growth slowed down, international tension eased down as well — all that allowed Japan to limit its defense spending.

Chinese economic boom and the respective growth of PRC military spending along with risky DPRK nuclear policy, however, bent Tokyo towards review of its military doctrine. Junichiro Koizumi has made a historical decision for Japan to participate in the Iraqi occupation. Increasing North Korean threat has once again pushed Tokyo to Washington. Japanese economic crisis lasting for more than ten years caused Tokyo to constrain its military spending under the aegis of modernization and transition to the 21^st century military model. New threats and lack of its own capabilities once again brought Japan to the American embraces. That’s why we shouldn’t really expect Yukio Hatoyama — who loudly proclaimed his intention to review the Japanese-American relationship — to actually change something, even despite possible sincerity of his intentions. Today’s Japan is not in its best shape to demonstrate proud and independent samurai approach.